What are some ways to empower students to advocate for themselves in college and beyond?

In my opinion, empowering students is crucial in making their scholastic growth truly holistic or complete. Emotional intelligence is the best tool in this direction. Being self aware and knowing one's strengths and weaknesses are great starting points. With a wider and open mindset to grow and achieve the goals, students can pick up essentials from their learning spaces. Thus, its imp to have conducive environmentsfor students development.

-Teaching students about their rights, self-advocacy strategies & effective communication skills -Encouraging students to seek mentorship, connect with support services & build a network of allies -Accessible Resources to information, counseling & support resources for personal academic advocacy -Offering training in negotiation, public speaking & conflict resolution to enhance students' self-advocacy capabilities -Facilitating internships, leadership roles & community engagement to develop practical advocacy skills for future endeavors -Creating a culture of inclusivity & belonging where students feel empowered to voice their needs & concerns -Establishing channels for constructive feedback to participate in decision-making processes

I think we need to focus on an education for life. Students need to become life long learners by developing their own thinking skills, metacognition and also their Personal and social skills stressing universal values such as respect for themselves and others, open mindedness, honesty .... to be able to become global citizens and interact with others in positive and peaceful ways at the same time that they reach their full potential in whatever area they choose.

In order for young people to effectively advocate for themselves in college, we must empower them to advocate for themselves from the moment they are Earth side. Treating children -even infants- with respect and reverence, respecting their "no"s, co-regulating, actively working on or own wounds as to not project onto them, supporting them in their understanding of their unique nervous system and supporting their expressive communication skills from the time their main communication is crying and playing through into young adulthood is the foundation of empowering young people to advocate for themselves- in college, beyond, & from the moment they're born. Not to mention using intentional protocols that share power and space- like Sociocracy.

It's important to create an environment for the students where they feel free. Freedom to express themselves. Freedom to take on those responsibilities. Freedom to come forward and give their opinion.

Es de suma importancia que el entorno de aprendizaje facilite herramientas que permitan el desarrollo del aprendizaje de una manera directa, precisa y compacta. Recordemos que en la adquisición de capacidades el conocimiento y las habilidades suman y la actitud multiplica.

Knowledge is power- for the students to advocate for themselves, they need to have information they can shape their values, perspectives and experiences around. Forming opinions comes from experience. Students need strong Leadership Mentors to coach, challenge and empower them to listen to the perspectives of others, critically reflect then develop their own ideals. Once on this journey of self-discovery, then the students will have ability to strongly stand for their beliefs.

A Peer to Peer Education program would be benificial; teaching each other about navigating college life, academic strategies and personal development.

I encourage them to approach me with ANY questions, concerns, disputations and even challenges to what I may be teaching. I recognize their efforts, no matter how feeble or bold they might be. I guide them toward respectfully communicating a contrary perspective and tell them, "I applaud your ability to politely speak up," and ask them to support their position. These opportunities present when I least expect them but are always enlightening and empowering. Often, students will include the phrase "... in support of my position..." and it makes me smile with delight. In sum, we must recognize and reward every effort and encourage them to continue for the rest of their lives.

It’s simple create an inclusive environment for the students the curriculum,the teaching ,the infrastructure all should be inclusive to all students no matter which background they come from . This is tough but not impossible ! This kind of environment will bring in uniformity and feeling of oneness in all ,breaking the barrier of rural , urban , English speaking , non-English speaking all these kind of barrier is broken when all treated as one this will automatically create a environment that will help to express them and grow .

Students have to work in collaboration with each other for diverse learning. Communication is the key and listening is necessary in groups. In a diverse group, the habit of listening and respecting everyone's view is important. At the same time giving constructive feedback and receiving it for self is most important. These small activities make them feel responsible for whatever task they do. They will get confidence and motivation in their ideas. At initial stages an educator can be vital to set the right tone in a group learning.

We need to stop promoting anonymous surveys as the best way to get honest feedback from students. Surveys force them to reduce their experience to a series of tick boxes. Rather we should purposely help them to develop skills in engaging in dialogue about their experience with their teachers, managers and their peer group. This enables them to talk about their experience while growing their understanding of the perspectives of other stakeholders at the same time. This will be valuable training for their future engagement in the workplace and in life in general.

Leadership roles: Encouraging participation in student government, clubs, or leadership positions gives students a platform to voice their opinions and advocate for change. Presentations and public speaking: Providing opportunities for students to present their work or ideas in front of others builds confidence and communication skills. Research Projects: Encourage independent research projects and studies where students take ownership of their learning and advocate for their chosen topics or methodologies.

Just a simple request to all student community: Expose yourself to all kinds experiences beyond your classrooms - sports, cultural events, volunteering, seminars, social service, travel, trek, etc. Just go out and experience the world! :)

What I feel is the most important is to make one realize that it's the best time and opportunity to learn, unlearn and relearn. Self realization is most important. Students should get the atmosphere to express freely in a dignified way, exhibit their silliest idea without any humiliation. Its necessary to make the students emotionally strong to handle unpleasant situations without losing temper. Soft skills , group discussion and collaborative activities are vital to make students confident and vocal.

It is important for students to learn to listen and hear to understand rather than just listening to simply respond. Being able to truly hear what their instructors, peers, and members of the campus community are trying to convey, allows them a better opportunity to gain perspective and insight into any situation they may be in. This will foster self-confidence to advocate for themselves, and continue to perpetuate a mindset of collaboration between students, faculty, and staff.

Self Reflection is usually helpful. You can help students understand their strengths, weaknesses, and learning styles. This self-awareness allows them to identify areas where they might need support and advocate for appropriate accommodations or resources. Encourage students to identify and analyze issues, brainstorm solutions, and make informed decisions. This empowers them to navigate challenges and advocate for their needs effectively.

In my experience working with pupils, I actively advocate journaling as a tool to develop self-awareness. Some students may find this difficult and I encourage students to go beyond traditional journaling by exploring alternative reflective methods, such as digital storytelling, vlogging, or creating vision boards. These dynamic approaches not only enhance self-reflection but also tap into diverse learning styles, empowering students to express and visualise their goals in unique and meaningful ways.

Support students to design bespoke curriculums with milestones and action plans. This could be timtabled in to their daily studies. Promote soft skills with self directed and peer directed time, allowing for time and peer management...

Uno de los peligros con este asunto es que a veces los profesores tendemos a imponer nuestras concepciones del mundo a los estudiantes o a ser condecendientes con sus ideales. Creo que lo primero es hacer ejercicios de autorreflexión sobre nuestros prejuicios en la causa que a ellos les interesa, invitar a los estudiantes a pensar sus posturas y luego tener una conversación con ellos basada en la honestidad radical, la esucha empática y con una alto nivel intelectual. Esto no sólo les dará las capacidades para enfrentarse a conversaciones difíciles, sino que les dará la confianza que otorga el sentirse respetado por una figura de autoridad. Un ejercicio que me ha servido es tener audiencia que dé buen feedback en estas conversaciones.

Together, self-reflection and goal setting create a powerful combination that empowers students to take ownership of their learning, reach their full potential, and become lifelong learners.

When I trained to become a university guidance counsellor, the crux of the training was to 'help young people to make well-informed, realistic decisions and deal with the subsequent transitions'. The transition element is, perhaps, the hardest part, not least because we don't now what is coming down the track! We can, however, help students acquire a growing portfolio of life-skills to best navigate these. Therein lies our duty!

In my experience students do not naturally meta think and self regulate and this is a skill that can and should be taught. When tasks are completed ask them to reflect on what they found challenging and what went well and also the manner in which they tackled the task. It’s a great life skill!

Certainly! To empower students to advocate for themselves, fostering self-reflection and goal-setting is key. Self-reflection involves examining thoughts, feelings, actions, and outcomes, identifying strengths and areas for improvement. Goal-setting, with specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound objectives, guides learning and growth. Encourage journaling, portfolios, or blogs for documenting the learning journey. Help students set SMART goals for academic and personal development, monitoring progress. This cultivates self-awareness, motivation, and direction, enabling students to advocate for their own learning and success.

Self reflection is so important for students, especially those with disabilities. As students grow older, I always encourage school team members to discuss a students disability and accommodations with them. This allows the students to begin to reflect on what works for them, and what doesn’t, and then allows them to advocate for what they need to be successful in other spaces. This is especially important as students go to college so that they can receive the proper supports to thrive.

Self reflection is so important for students, especially those with disabilities. As students grow older, I always encourage school team members to discuss a students disability and accommodations with them. This allows the students to begin to reflect on what works for them, and what doesn’t, and then allows them to advocate for what they need to be successful in other spaces. This is especially important as students go to college so that they can receive the proper supports to thrive.

External events like inter-college competitions, national-level competitions, business events, or any collaborative event (where colleges can collaborate with corporations and send their students to volunteer there) really help. In fact, when I was in college, all these things played a more important role in my growth than the academic curriculum.

One of my favorite quotes is from the late leadership expert Warren Bennis. “I don't know if you can teach leadership, but I know it can be learned.” Creating authentic opportunities for students to learn to lead themselves and others is essential. Often, leader and leadership development are synonymous, but they are different and inextricable, thus inseparable. 1. Leader development focuses on intra-personal (human capital) development. 2. Leadership development requires opportunities to lead in-situ through inter-personal (social capital) development. Continuously seek ways for authentic opportunities for both types of development in various contexts, and you will empower agency autonomy and develop capacity.

Have them begin advocating for themselves now. This can be fomented by coaching them on how to practice self-advocacy and playing an active role in their schools and communities.

We shouldn’t forget about the enthusiastic passions of each student, although we sadly tend to hope them to pursue something “good” or “useful”. I believe the only people who can truly change the world are those who are free from social expectations and trends, simply pursuing paths that they are crazy about. Meanwhile, from my experience, worst of all is the media violence that twists the passion of young people for the convenience of adults and pretends as if society is getting better on schedule. What we need to do now is not to feature "honor students" as our expected norm, but to admire and develop each and every youth’s enthusiasm, allowing them to simply immerse themselves in anything without being conscious of the eyes of society.

As a special educator, I found that engaging students at a young age (middle school) is key to build self advocacy. Many students don't feel empowered enough to speak up for themselves. Involving them in the process of developing their 504 Plan or IEP helps to strengthen the effectiveness of them being able to advocate for their educational needs. Once they enter college or university they can speak to professors, share their plan and work with Disability Counselors to support them in their classes with the accommodations they need.

Invite guest speakers or role models: Bringing in professionals who actively advocate for themselves can inspire students and provide valuable insights. Organize workshops and activities: Offer workshops on specific skills like negotiation, conflict resolution, or assertiveness training. Utilize technology and online resources: Explore online resources and tools that can help students build self-advocacy skills, such as interactive tutorials or simulations.

Provide choice in students’ learning process such as students’ interest to give students opportunity to invest in their own learning. Inquiry and project based learning are two best path ways to moving towards real world learning and 21st century skills.

E-portfolios: creating a well-curated online portfolio showcasing academic achievements, projects, and skills can effectively highlight students capabilities to potential employers or graduate programs. Linking the e-portfolio to professional networking platforms like LinkedIn or earned digital credentials can expand visibility, connect students with potential opportunities and add context to their achievements.